Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Amarillo, TX

May 10, 1991Castro County, Parmer County, Texas

NWS Amarillo, TX issued this tornado warning at May 10, 1991, 6:39 PM CDT for Castro County, Parmer County, Texas. It was in force for 36 min. 4 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 10, 1991, 6:39 PM CDT (23:39 UTC)
Expired
May 10, 1991, 7:15 PM CDT
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Amarillo, TX
Area
Whole counties

Counties Castro County, TX, Parmer County, TX

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 10, 6:40 PM CDTHail 2Parmer, TX
May 10, 6:45 PM CDTHail 0.88Castro, TX
May 10, 6:45 PM CDTHail 2.75Parmer, TX
May 10, 7:12 PM CDTHail 2.75Parmer, TX

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Amarillo Airport, TX (KAMA), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 108 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Amarillo Airport, TX at 12:00Z on 1991-05-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 251 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Amarillo Airport, TX at 12:00Z on 1991-05-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 32 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
251 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-488 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1229 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
18 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KAMA 102341 RRA
TORAMA
TXC069-369-110015-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
639 PM CDT FRI MAY 10 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AMARILLO HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  715 PM CDT
FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
 
IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE
 
   ...WESTERN CASTRO COUNTY...EASTERN PARMER COUNTY
 
AT 630 PM CDT A WEATER SPOTTER REPORTED A TORNADO 2 MILES EAST OF
LAZBUDDIE IN EASTERN PARMER COUNTY. THE TORNADO WAS MOVING NORTH AT 30
MPH.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 10, 1:04 PM CDT, 5 hours 35 minutes before
TXZ001>009-NMZ005-009-013-OKZ001>003-110600-

TEXAS/OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
100 PM CDT FRI MAY 10 1991

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING OVER THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF THE PANHANDLES.

AN ABUNDANCE OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE REMAINS IN PLACE ACROSS THE
REGION THIS AFTERNOON. DEW POINT TEMPERATURES HAVE CLIMBED INTO
THE 60S OVER NEARLY ALL OF THE AREA. THE DRY LINE...SEPARATING
VERY MOIST AIR FROM VERY DRY AIR...WAS FOUND TODAY INTO EASTERN
NEW MEXICO. THE AIRMASS OVER THE PANHANDLES IS MODERATELY UNSTABLE
AND ALL THAT IS LACKING IS A TRIGGERING MECHANISM FOR THUNDERSTORMS
TO BEGIN TO DEVELOP.

AFTERNOON HEATING...ONCE THE CLOUDINESS OVER THE REGION DECREASES...
IS EXPECTED TO HELP TRIGGER THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. A MORE
FAVORABLE AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT WILL LIKELY BE IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO
NEAR THE DRY LINE. A WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MAY MOVE ACROSS THE
REGION TONIGHT...WHICH WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY
OF THUNDERSTORMS.

SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS OVER THE WESTERN
TWO THIRDS OF THE PANHANDLES SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND BE READY FOR
ACTIVATION TODAY IF NECESSARY.
Special weather statement, May 10, 4:09 PM CDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
TXZ001>009-NMZ005-009-013-OKZ001>003-110300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
415 PM CDT FRI MAY 10 1991

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
EXTREME EASTERN NEW MEXICO...THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF THE OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLE...AND THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.

THE TORNADO WATCH INCLUDES CIMARRON AND TEXAS COUNTIES OF THE
OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE...AND THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF THE TEXAS
PANHANDLE...DALLAM..HARTLEY..OLDHAM..DEAF SMITH..SHERMAN..MOORE..
POTTER..RANDALL..HANSFORD..HUTCHINSON..CARSON..AND ARMSTRONG.

TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING
THUNDERSTORM WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 10, 4:47 PM CDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
TXZ001>009-NMZ005-009-013-OKZ001>003-110300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
445 PM CDT FRI MAY 10 1991

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
EXTREME EASTERN NEW MEXICO...THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF THE OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLE...AND THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.

AT 435 PM CDT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED
ACROSS THE EXTREME NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AND THE
NORTHEAST CORNER OF NEW MEXICO. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WAS JUST
SOUTHWEST OF MIDDLE WATER IN HARTLEY COUNTY.

ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED
ACREOSS THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS SOUTH PLAINS NEAR JAYTON.

NO MOVEMENT NOTED AT THIS TIME.
Special weather statement, May 10, 5:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
TXZ001>009-NMZ005-009-013-OKZ001>003-102300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
520 PM CDT FRI MAY 10 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE
TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE UNTIL 10 PM CDT...

AT 515 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
IN THE WESTERN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES.  THE STRONGEST STORMS
IN THE LINE WERE LOCATED NORTH OF 8 MILES NORTH OF ADRIAN IN OLDHAM
COUNTY AND 10 MILES SOUTH OF DALHART IN HARTLEY COUNTY.  THE LINE
WAS MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.

BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...HAIL AND STRONG WIND ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY GAIN STRENGTH AND MOVE ACROSS THE WESTERN
TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANZHANDLES.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE
PANHANDLES UNTIL 10 PM CDT.  PLEASE REMAIN ALERT AND STAY TUNED TO
THIS STATION FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

PLISCHKE
Special weather statement, May 10, 5:22 PM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
TXZ001>009-NMZ005-009-013-OKZ001>003-102300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
520 PM CDT FRI MAY 10 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE
TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES UNTIL 10 PM CDT...

AT 515 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
IN THE WESTERN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES.  THE STRONGEST STORMS
IN THE LINE WERE LOCATED 8 MILES NORTH OF ADRIAN IN OLDHAM
COUNTY AND 10 MILES SOUTH OF DALHART IN HARTLEY COUNTY.  THE LINE
WAS MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.

BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...HAIL AND STRONG WIND ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY GAIN STRENGTH AND MOVE ACROSS THE WESTERN
TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE
PANHANDLES UNTIL 10 PM CDT.  PLEASE REMAIN ALERT AND STAY TUNED TO
THIS STATION FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

PLISCHKE

The office that day

Everything else NWS Amarillo, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 10, 5:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAMADallam, Hartley64 min
May 10, 5:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAMAHartley, Oldham56 min
May 10, 6:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAMACastro, Parmer65 min
May 10, 6:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAMADallam, Hartley, Oldham55 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1991Every tornado warning in 1991Tornadoes in 1991

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.